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Two Soft Drinks a Week Increases Cancer Risk by 87%

People who drink at least two soft drinks a week nearly double their risk of developing pancreatic cancer, a study has revealed.

Researchers collected data on the consumption of soft drinks, juice and other dietary items, as well as lifestyle and environmental factors of 60,524 people who were part of the huge Singapore Chinese Health Study, following up with study participants for up to 14 years.

The research found there was a 87 per cent higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer for those who drank two or more soft drinks per week.

No link was found between fruit juice and developing pancreatic cancer, said the study which was published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention said.

“The high levels of sugar in soft drinks may be increasing the level of insulin in the body, which we think contributes to pancreatic cancer cell growth,” lead researcher Mark Pereira of the University of Minnesota said.

Insulin helps the body metabolise sugar, and is produced in the pancreas.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer, and only 5% of people who are diagnosed are known to survive five years later, according to the American Cancer Society.

Doctor Pereira says the findings would apply to western countries as well.

“Singapore is a wealthy country with excellent healthcare. Favourite pastimes are eating and shopping, so the findings should apply to other western countries,” he said.

He said that while sugar may be to blame, those who drink sugar-sweetened soft drinks often have other poor health habits.

The Singapore Chinese Health Study1 enrolled Singapore Chinese people who lived in government housing estates – as nearly nine in 10 people in Singapore do – and looked at their diets, physical activity, reproductive history, occupational exposure and medical history.

Emed’s Comment:

Excessive amounts of sugar isn’t the only thing that’s dangerous about soft drinks.

Australians drink more soft drink than ever before. It has been estimated that the average Australian drinks an estimated 76 litres of soft drink each year. Not only is the massive amounts of plastic contributing to land fill – these drinks are polluting our bodies too.

Kids are heavy consumers of soft drinks too. Soft drinks account for much of their daily sugar intake. Pity that fruit and vegetables don’t feature as highly on their list.

Not only are soft drinks widely available everywhere from fast food places to video stores, they’re now sold in many public and private schools – talk about easy access for our kids.

One can of soft drink has about 10 teaspoons of sugar, 150 calories, 30 to 55 mg of caffeine, and is loaded with artificial food colouring. Studies have linked soft drink to osteoporosis, obesity, tooth decay and heart disease.

Drinking all that sugar will likely suppress your appetite for healthy foods too, which paves the way for nutrient deficiencies.

Eliminating soft drinks from your diet is one of the best things you could do for your health. Cut the habit now, and save yourself from potentially fatal disease and illness.

If you’re thirsty, drink water instead. Having a glass of freshly squeezed juice is fine once a day, but water should make up the majority of your liquids.

Find out exactly how much water you should be drinking by clicking here.

What else can I do?

Knowing exactly what natural medicine to take can be daunting, especially given that Emed has literally thousands of pages of health products and information. If you aren’t sure of what you want, or need some professional advice on what strategies to consider to improve your health, then the Emed Consultation is for you. Based on your unique health appraisal questionnaire, you will be given a comprehensive and personalised report to guide you through the world of natural medicine. Click here for more information.

Soft drinks aren’t just bad for your health, weight and vitality – they can also cause low levels of vitamins and minerals in your body. Find out your exact vitamin and mineral needs with the Emed Baseline Nutritional Evaluation. The detailed report will provide you with the tools you need to take control of your health. Click here for more information.

How well do you eat? Avoid hypoglycaemia and sugar slumps by eating regular, small, protein-rich meals throughout the day. Focus on protein, and the rest will take care of itself. Educate yourself with our Nutrition section and get the most from your diet.

Get moving. If you consume soft drink and eat junk on a regular basis, your health (and body weight) will suffer. Start exercising everyday and cut out the excuses. Read ‘Stretching and Exercise‘ for more information.

Taking a multivitamin? We all need to fill in the gaps in our diet – no matter how well we eat, we are generally deficient in a few different nutrients. Go to Emed’s Best Multi’s for the BEST and strongest multivitamin supplements available.